Portable self-contained water supply and pressurized method of distributing water

ABSTRACT

This is a portable, pressurized washing system for use in various situations. It is designed to provide low power, medium to low pressure water at high volumes. Its initial application is for use in equestrian applications. The basic design allows for easy mounting inside a horse trailer, and will supply water under pressure to a user outside the trailer who wishes to hose off a horse, equipment or the trailer itself. There are obviously other applications outside equestrian uses, such as but not limited to, mountain biking, motor-crossing or even SCUBA diving.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

As any equestrian knows washing hot horses after any grueling event, such as Hunter Paces or Eventing, when away from the home barn, can be difficult and dirty. Most often, a equestrian will take a closed container of water, pour it into a bucket, and use a sponge to wipe down his/her horse. This results, rather quickly, in dirty water in the bucket, dirty water splashed on the rider and more irksome it can result in dirty water splashed on the rider's clean breeches—clean breeches that are needed for another event that day. Furthermore, the water from the water bucket and sponge is obviously not under any pressure, nor is it clean after the first sponge rinse, as mentioned above, and thus does not effectively wipe the sweat and dirt from the horse's hide.

Thus was born this device, which the inventor has trade named “The Hoser”. It is simple in concept and can be adapted to a wide variety of usages and configurations. The inventor initially created the Portable Self-Contained Water Supply and Pressurized Method of Distributing Water for use with his own horses in his own horse trailer. The first implementation was a large, closed, plastic container of water, strapped inside the trailer, with a pump mounted on top of that tank, and with a hose attached to the discharge port of the pump. Thus, he could easily extend the hose that is attached to the plastic container, out of the trailer and spray down his horses with pressurized water. The horses were cleaner and happier, he never got dirty with a dirty sponge and water, and so he never had to bring the water bucket and sponge to another event again!

Since that time many other methods of employing the Portable Self-Contained Water Supply and Pressurized Method of Distributing Water device have been contemplated. For instance, it can also be readily adapted to other sports, such as dirt biking, SCUBA diving and mountain biking—in fact it can be adapted for any sport that needs to hose down equipment or animals away from home.

PRIOR ART

U.S. Pat. No. 6,594,843 issued to Inventor Wilkins on Jul. 22, 2003 teaches a portable tool that has a long handle with a fitting for connection to an external pressurized water supply.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,594,843 issued to Inventors Gries' (Ronald, Aaron and Andrew), Brown, Dickerson and Naylor on Feb. 8, 1994 teaches a portable spray system that is provided with a plurality of storage containers for receipt and storage of pressurized water from a residential water tap.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,975,423 issued to Inventors Rice and Ballarad on Nov. 2, 1999 teaches a portable, fully self-contained pressure wash-down system that operates in a storage mode for storing and hermetically sealing system components when the system is not in use, and works in an operation mode for allowing portable operation of the system.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,820,037 issued to Inventor Lawrence on Oct. 13, 1998 teaches a portable automobile undercarriage washing/cleaning device consisting of an inverted bowl-like body portion featuring a water spray nozzle that is secured to a standard garden-type hose.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,775,591 issued to Inventor Fauci on Jul. 7, 1998 teaches a compact portable cleaning device that includes a water bottle with an integral hand pump for pressurizing the contents of the bottle.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,111,762 issued to Inventor Frangiamore on May 12, 1992 teaches an apparatus for rinsing the interior of a marine engine is adapted to be affixed to the frame of a boat trailer in order to be carried by the boat trailer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This is a portable, pressurized washing system for use in various situations. It is designed to provide medium to low pressure water at high volumes. Its initial application is for use in equestrian applications. The basic design allows for easy mounting inside a horse trailer, and will supply water under pressure to a user outside the trailer who wishes to hose off a horse, equipment or the trailer itself. The device is comprised of five major subassemblies, a main water tank, a pump, a hose and hose assembly, a mounting method, and an electrical system. The device is completely self contained, in that at the remote location, there is no need for an external water supply, nor is there a need for any other equipment, such as an air compressor. There are obviously other applications outside equestrian uses, such as but not limited to, mountain biking, motor-crossing, boating or even SCUBA diving. This Portable Self-Contained Water Supply and Pressurized Method of Distributing Water device is designed for ease of use, compactness and portability. To that end the inventor designed this device with those concepts in mind. For instance, the current preferred embodiment is on wheels, but also has a hold down hooking block. This allows the user to employ this invention by either leaving it in place and extending the hose outside of the trailer, or by wheeling it outside the trailer by use of chrome plated steel handlebars and rust resistant plastic wheels to a more desirable location. The main water tank further demonstrates the ease of use design. There is a finger screw cap on the topside of the main water tank. This screw cap can be easily twisted and removed to allow a user to easily, and quickly fill the device with water from a home water spigot or hose. Finally, the hose storage compartment makes the invention not only easy to use, but also compact. The hose storage compartment will neatly store the hose, so the hose does not present an entanglement hazard. The following description relays some additional desired functionality, but in no way limits the scope of this invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts the entire Portable Self-Contained Water Supply and Pressurized Method of Distributing Water from the front hose side of the device in a three dimensional, isometric view.

FIG. 2 depicts the entire Portable Self-Contained Water Supply and Pressurized Method of Distributing Water from the back in a three dimensional, isometric view.

FIG. 3 depicts the entire Portable Self-Contained Water Supply and Pressurized Method of Distributing Water from the front non-hose side of the device in a three dimensional, isometric view.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The terminology used herein should be interpreted in its broadest reasonable manner, even though it is being utilized in conjunction with a detailed description of a certain specific preferred embodiment of the present invention. This is further emphasized below with respect to some particular terms used herein. Any terminology that the reader should interpret in any restricted manner will be overtly and specifically defined as such in this specification. The preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters designate like or similar parts throughout.

As mentioned in the Summary of Invention, the Portable Self-Contained Water Supply and Pressurized Method of Distributing Water device is comprised of five major sub-assemblies. These include the main water tank (FIG. 1), a hose and hose assembly (FIG. 3), and electrical system (FIGS. 1 and 2) and a pump (FIGS. 1 and 2). Each sub-system will be described in kind.

Main Water Tank

In this preferred embodiment the main water tank 1 (as shown in FIG. 1) is a 30-gallon standard drum like tank made out of opaque high-density polyethylene (HDPE). However, the main water tank 1 (as shown in FIG. 1) can come in various sizes and shapes depending on the water usage requirements and placement requirements for a given application. For instance, the main water tank 1 (as shown in FIG. 1) could be a 60-gallon square container that is affixed in the rectangular storage compartment found on the front of many horse trailers. Additionally, the main water tank 1 (as shown in FIG. 1) can be made out of any durable material and can be optionally impregnated with color to suit the taste of a user. The main water tank 1 (as shown in FIG. 1) is further comprised of a filler with finger screw cap 16 (as shown in FIG. 2), a water tank siphon port 21 (as shown in FIG. 3), handlebar mounts 17 (as shown in FIG. 2), a hose storage compartment 15 (as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3), a battery compartment 14 (as shown in FIG. 2), a hold down hooking block 19 (as shown in FIG. 2), wheel axle mounts 18 (as shown in FIG. 2) and a resting foot 22 (as shown in FIG. 3). Affixed to the main water tank 1 (as shown in FIG. 1) are chrome plated steel handlebars 6 (as shown in FIG. 1), galvanized steel wheel axles with retaining nuts and washers 13 (as shown in FIG. 1), and rust resistant plastic wheels 11 (as shown in FIG. 1) with rubber tread 12 (as shown in FIG. 1). Of course, the inventor contemplates materials other than chrome plated steel handlebars, galvanized steel wheel axles, and rust resistant plastic wheel. The inventor further contemplates additional means of moving this invention other than by use of wheels and/or handlebars.

Pump

The pump 2 (as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2), in this preferred embodiment, is a 12-volt DC, 5 amp, 3 gallon per minute at 45 pounds per square inch (PSI), self-priming, auto shutoff water pump. A water siphon tube with compression fittings 7 (as shown in FIG. 3) is affixed to the water siphon port 21 (as shown in FIG. 3), and to the inlet port of the pump 2 (as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2). A pump outlet pressure line with compression fittings 20 (as shown in FIG. 2) attaches at one end to the discharge port of the pump and terminates with a fitting to which the plastic coiled standard hose 9 (as shown in FIG. 3) attaches. The inventor fully contemplates that the actual size and gallons per minute delivery of the pump, and diameter of the siphon tube, will depend on the application. Additionally, in this preferred embodiment, the actual pump 2 (as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2) is affixed to the to a galvanized steel mounting bracket 3 (as shown in FIG. 1). This galvanized steel mounting bracket 3 (as shown in FIG. 1) creates a stable, durable, rust proof method for attaching the pump 2 (as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2) and in turn is affixed to the main water tank 1 (as shown in FIG. 1). Of course, as with all other aspects of this invention, the inventor fully anticipates that the method of affixing the pump to the water tank can and will change to meet the circumstances in which this invention is used.

Electrical System

The present embodiment of this invention uses a lead acid battery 8 (as shown in FIG. 2) to power the pump 2 (as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2). The lead acid battery 8 (as shown in FIG. 2) fits snugly into the battery compartment 14 (as shown in FIG. 2) and is wired, as appropriate, to the pump 2 (as shown in FIG. 2), the environmentally sealed, power on/off, single pole single throw (SPST), toggle switch 4 (as shown in FIG. 1) and power indicator lamp 4 (as shown in FIG. 1). The environmentally sealed, power on/off, single pole single throw (SPST), toggle switch 4 (as shown in FIG. 1) is mounted into the galvanized steel mounting bracket 3 (as shown in FIG. 1) and wired into the electrical circuit. Along with the environmentally sealed, power on/off, single pole single throw (SPST), toggle switch 4 (as shown in FIG. 1) there is a power indicator lamp 4 (as shown in FIG. 1). This power indicator lamp 4 (as shown in FIG. 1) is simply used to easily show the user whether the device is powered on or not and is wired in parallel to the power leading to the pump 2 (as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2). Upstream of the environmentally sealed, power on/off, single pole single throw (SPST), toggle switch 4 (as shown in FIG. 1) (i.e. between the toggle switch and the battery a fuse is placed to prevent accidental overloads. It should be noted that the inventor might also modify this design so that the device can be powered by an external power source such as a car battery or other power sources. Additionally, the inventor fully anticipates that other designs of this same device will not have a self-contained battery and therefore the device's electrical requirements will be modified to be easily hooked up to, and run off of, a standard car battery, or the like. For example, an application of this device could power the pump by establishing a connection to the horse trailer's electrical system via a socket on a standard trailer hitch. Alternatively, other electrical hookups schemes could use in-line splicing to a car or trailer's electrical system.

Hose and Hose Assembly

The hose, in this preferred embodiment is a half-inch standard coiled plastic garden hose 9 (as shown in FIG. 3). It attaches at one end to the pump outlet pressure line with compression fittings 20 (as shown in FIG. 2) and terminates by screwing into a typical multi-mode garden style spray nozzle 10 (as shown in FIG. 3). The hose 9 (as shown in FIG. 3) can be of various lengths depending on the application. The spray nozzle 10 (as shown in FIG. 3) is an integral part of this design and allows a user some measure of control over how the water is delivered (i.e. in different water stream shapes, such as mist, cone, flat, jet, shower, angled, or vertical).

Mounting Method

The preferred embodiment of this device has provided for a simple, yet effective mounting method. A hold down hooking block 19 (as shown in FIG. 2) is levered onto a plate screwed into the floor of a horse trailer. This stops the device from rolling around when the trailer (or other locomotion apparatus) is under way. Additionally, the user could use bungee or Velcro straps to hold the handlebars tight against the walls of the trailer. The inventor also contemplates the use of a storage box found on the front support member of many horse trailers to house and secure an appropriate water tank.

The foregoing description and methods detail certain preferred embodiments of the present invention and describe the best mode contemplated. It will be appreciated, however, that no matter how detailed the foregoing description appears, the invention can be practiced in many ways without departing from the spirit of the invention. Therefore, the description contained in this specification is to be considered exemplary, rather than limiting, and the true scope of the invention is only limited by the following claims and any equivalents thereof. 

1. A portable water supply device comprising: a water container, a device for extracting water under pressure, a device for directing water to an ultimate source, a power system for the portable water supply device, and a method to secure the portable water supply device into any type of apparatus capable of locomotion, including, but not limited to, vehicles, boats, airplanes, trains and bicycles.
 2. A water container of claim 1 further comprising: a container made from any lightweight, durable material, such as, but not limited to the plastic HDPE family of materials.
 3. A water container of claim 1 further comprising: a hose storage compartment.
 4. A water container of claim 2 further comprising: a hole with cap for filling said water container, and a water siphon port.
 5. A water container of claim 4 further comprising: handlebar mounts, durable handlebars, such as, but not limited to, chrome plated handlebars, a hold-down hooking mechanism, wheel axle mounts, a wheel axle with retaining nuts and washers, a set of wheels, and a front resting foot.
 6. A water container as in claims 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 further comprising: a battery compartment.
 7. A device for extracting water under pressure of claim 1 further comprising: a pump, a siphon tube with compression fittings, and a means to mount said pump.
 8. A pump of claim 7 further comprising: a low voltage DC self-priming, auto shutoff water pump.
 9. A means to mount a pump of claim 7 further comprising: a rigid platform, such as, but not limited to, galvanized steel plate with the ability to mount the pump to the main water tank.
 10. A means to mount a pump of claim 7 further comprising: a platform molded onto a water container to which the pump is affixed.
 11. A system for powering the portable water supply device, the system comprising: a DC power source, a means of engaging and disengaging the power; and an power indicator lamp;
 12. A power source of claim 11 further comprising: a self contained battery, such as, but not limited to, a standard lead acid battery.
 13. A power source of claim 11 further comprising: an external power source, such as, but not limited to, a vehicle battery, of the locomotion apparatus in which the portable water supply device is affixed.
 14. A means of engaging and disengaging the power of claim 10 further comprising an on/off toggle switch.
 15. A on/off toggle switch of claim 13 further comprising: an environmentally sealed, single pole, single throw (SPST) toggle switch.
 16. A method of mounting the portable water supply device of claim 1, the system comprising: straps to hold the device in place inside or alongside a locomotion device.
 17. A method of mounting the portable water supply device of claim 1, the system comprising: using an already available storage compartment of a locomotion apparatus.
 18. A method of mounting the portable water supply device of claim 1, the system comprising: mounting a steel bracket to the floor of a locomotion appartus; tilting the portable water supply device such that the water container hold-down hooking device slides onto the steel bracket; securing the handlebars to the interior sides of the locomotion apparatus by use of securing straps, such as, but not limited to, bungee cords or Velcro straps. 